Honiara, Solomon Islands — Amid growing controversy over the legal status of SI Group Limited, a senior Kadere Party executive has stepped in to defend the group, drawing criticism that the party is using entertainment to distract from serious legal breaches.
Martin Housanau, a key figure in the Kadare Party, fronted a press conference alongside SI Group’s Deputy Director, Jean Lesly Benoit, to announce a free concert featuring Jamaican dancehall artist Busy Signal. Scheduled for July 12th, the event is being promoted in partnership with the Kadare Party and Cowboy Grill.
But the timing and spectacle have raised eyebrows.
Just days ago, the Solomon Islands Foreign Investment Division (FID) publicly declared that SI Group Ltd is not a legally registered entity in the country. The FID stressed that the group is conducting commercial activity without proper foreign investment approval or company incorporation—a clear violation of Solomon Islands law.
Despite these warnings, Housanau insists that the concert is separate from the group’s business ambitions, adding that SI Group has already filed a business registration, which could take up to 90 days to process.
However, many locals see the free concert as a calculated move to shift public attention away from the controversy. Many argue it’s a classic case of smoke and mirrors, entertaining the masses while avoiding accountability.
The scandal has already shaken confidence, as SI Group previously signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Solomon Islands Government without Cabinet approval, an act that reportedly involved the coerced participation of the former Minister of Commerce during a trip to Vietnam.
While the beats of dancehall may soon fill Honiara’s air, many Solomon Islanders are calling for the rule of law to take center stage.
As one social media commenter put it, “This isn’t just about a concert—it’s about who gets to break the rules, and who gets held accountable.”
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